My 4 year old son is overweight. I'm not in denial about it. A bit of backstory, he had PICA from about 9 months to 2.5 years ish, in which time we struggled to get him to eat 'proper' food. Instead he preferred to eat plaster/mud/sand/toilet roll ect. Because he was skinny and it obviously wasn't doing his tummy any favours we were desperately trying to tempt him to eat normal food, offering chocolate/ice cream ect. He eventually started eating proper food but gained weight rapidly. In the space of a year he went from a size 3-4 to 7-8 (I don't formally weigh him at home). I've been to the paediatrian who diagnosed an iron defiency (which she did the last time) and offered general advice but Alive and Kicking (?) classes aren't available until he's 5. I've been working with his preschool on lunches until they were happy with them. I cook dinner pretty much as soon as we're home to limit snacking, and he has a supper of a sandwich/toast before bed. I don't keep rubbish food in the house anymore and I try to keep us active (but it can be difficult in the cold weather and I can't afford frequent activities like swimming or trampolining regularly). I have so much anxiety over it as he starts school this year. 6 different people on different occasions have said to me 'he's such a sweet boy, he's going to be a target for bullying' and the thought of that makes me feel sick. It's getting me so down and depressed and it's making me question sending him to school at all, even though I know it'll benefit him and there's no garentee he'll struggle socially. But he truly is such a sweet, lovely little boy and the thought of it breaks me.
I don’t know what to do
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Overweight child :(
Braneycat · 07/03/2019 19:55
I wouldn't worry too much about cooking dinner as soon as you get home. They are fine with a snack until dinner arrives and it's good for them to eat with you. Snacking isn't all bad, especially if it's healthy snacks. There are some suggested snacks in this guide from the Caroline Walker Trust. It also gives sample menus and portion sizes.
If money is tight, can you do some things to get him to move more that don't cost much? How about starting the Couch to 5k yourself and getting him to scoot or ride a bike by your side? Does he walk to Pre-school and back? Can you take him to the park each day or for a walk? When the nights were getting lighter, like they are now, my DS would like to play football with me in the garden after tea so that might be an idea.
Can you limit his screen time to an hour a day too? I find my DC are much more active if there's no phones, tv or tablets to distract them 
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